The Need for Low-Income Housing in Chicago is Evident

June 17, 2010

The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) opened its Family Public Housing Wait List this week for the first time in more than a decade in an attempt to provide 40,000 families with affordable apartments around Chicago.

Some of the 40,000 that make CHA's Wait List might get housing in the Britton Budd Apartments on Surf Street.

Close to 100,000 people signed up on the first day alone and many more are expected.

The application process is open through July 9, when the CHA will hold a lottery to determine who can stay on the wait list. All names will be treated equally in the lottery regardless of when the application is filed.

Those chosen and who qualify will be eligible for traditional family, scattered site or mixed-income housing as residences become available.

To register, visit www.chawaitlist.org, fill out the form and click submit. Information on the site is available in nine languages, and registration is free. You must be 18 years of age or older to apply.

Officials warned of a web site that claims it will put applicants at the top of the waiting list for a fee. These are false claims and should be ignored. Only register at www.chawaitlist.org.

If you don’t have a computer, you can go to the more than 100 registration assistance sites throughout Chicago where computers and technical assistance will be provided. Locations can be found at www.chawaitlist.org or by calling (866) 784-3242 or 311.

Updates are available by texting “INFO” to 75309 from your mobile phone.

[...] Daley appointed Reynolds as a member of the board of the CHA and said that if the City Council approves, Reynolds will be named chairman of the Chicago Housing Authority and will lead improvements in Chicago’s public housing. [...]